Tube compressor

ABSTRACT

Tube compressor comprising a holder in which a tube can be located and a member slidably mounted on the holder. The whole arrangement is such that the member is movable along the holder against the tube to cause emission of the contents of the tube.

United States Patent [191 Paroussiadis TUBE COMPRESSOR [76] Inventor: Demitri Paroussiadis, 23B Tontine St., Folkestone, England [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 438,718

[52] US. Cl. 222/103 [51] Int. Cl 865d 35/28 [58] Field of Search 222/103, 101

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hubbard............................. 222/103 lO/l924 [451 July 8,1975

7/l948 Fuston ZZZ/I03 X 7/1966 Madden et 222/]03 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lowe, King 8; Price [57] ABSTRACT Tube compressor comprising a holder in which a tube can be located and a member slidably mounted on the holder. The whole arrangement is such that the member is movable along the holder against the tube to cause emission of the contents of the tube.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures TUBE COMPRESSOR The invention relates to tube compressors, for use in emitting the contents of a compressible tube container.

According to the invention there is provided a tube compressor which comprises a holder in which a tube can be located and a member slidably mounted on the holder, the arrangement being such that the member is movable along the holder against the tube to cause emission of the contents thereof, in use.

The holder may be generally V" shaped with an apertured member arranged across the arms of the V", the aperture of the apertured member being of such size that the nozzle of a tube contained in the holder, in use, projects through the aperture, and is retained the rein by the tube cap engaging the apertured member around the aperture.

One arm of the V" shaped holder may comprise a pair of generally parallel members arranged to lie one on each side of a tube contained in the holder, in use, the slidable member being arranged to bridge the parallel members and being slidable therealong.

The holder may be formed such that the parallel members are resiliently urged away from the other arm of the V but are retained by step formations on the apertured member, the parallel members being movable towards said other arm upon actuation of the slidable member towards the apertured member, in use.

Protusions may be formed from one of the arms of the holder, adjacent the common connecting portion thereof and extending towards the other arm so as to assist in retaining a tube in the holder, in use.

The holder and apertured member may be formed integrally and the holder and slidable member may be fabricated of synthetic plastics or metal.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube compressor, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tube compressor of FIG. 1 with a tube located therein.

Referring now to the drawing the tube compressor comprises a generally V" shaped holder 11, one arm 12 of which comprises a solid member to provide a base or support for the holder 11. The portion or member 12 may be formed with apertures or other means (not shown) for attachment of the holder to a support surface such as a wall or ledge. The other arm of holder 11 comprises two parallel spaced apart members 13 arranged to lie one along each side of a tube 14 when located in holder 11. The holder 11 is formed ofsynthetic plastics or metal and is arranged to be sprung so that members 13 tend to move away from member 12. The members 13 are retained by being located beneath step portions 15 of a member 16 arranged across the free ends of holder 11.

The member 16 is preferably integrally formed with member 12 and is formed with a central aperture I7. The aperture 17 is formed of a size to accommodate the nozzle of a tube to be carried in holder 11 but not to allow passage of a cap 18 (FIG. 2) therefor. Hence, as can be seen from FIG. 2, a tube is retained in holder 11 by the cap 18 of the tube 14. The holder 11 is also formed with protrusions 19 to locate the closed end of tube 14 in the holder 11.

A slider member 20 is slidably attached to the members 13 so as to bridge such members and be freely slidable therealong. The slider member 20 may be formed, as shown, to accommodate the thumb of a user.

In use, with a tube located in holder H, the member 12 is located on a work surface (or attached thereto) and the tube cap 18 removed. The slider member 20, is then depressed by the user's thumb against the tube 14 and slid along members 13 towards the tube nozzle end until sufficient of the contents of tube 14 has been dispensed when the cap 18 is replaced, the members 13 then returning to the released position as shown in FIG. 1.

When the tube 14 is empty it is removed from holder 11 and a new tube inserted merely by removing the cap, inserting the nozzle through aperture 17, locating the tube end beneath protrusions 19 and replacing the tube cap.

The device may be utilised to dispense toothpaste, glue or any other substance normally contained in compressible tube containers.

The device may be formed by injection moulding of synthetic plastics material or may be stamped and bent from flat sheets of metal or synthetic plastics material.

I claim:

I. A tube holder comprising a generally V-shaped holder for receiving a tube including:

a first arm having a pair of generally parallel members arranged to lie on each side of the tube;

a second arm formed of a solid member to provide a support for said holder;

an apertured member arranged across said first and second arms and containing an aperture for receiving the nozzle of said tube;

a slidable member engaging and bridging said parallel members and slidable therealong, said slidable member being curved to facilitate actuation of said slidable member toward said apertured member;

means for resiliently urging apart said arms; and

step formation means on said apertured member for restraining separating of said arms, said arms being movable together upon depression of said slidable member toward said tube'during actuation of said slidable member toward said apertured member to cause emission of the contents of said tube.

2. A tube compressor as in claim 1 wherein said curved slidable member includes an upwardly extending flange at the end of said slidable member toward said apertured member.

3. A tube compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein protrusions are formed from one of the arms of the holder, adjacent the common connection portion thereof and extending towards the other arm so as to assist in retaining a tube in the holder, in use.

4. A tube compressor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the holder and apertured member are formed integrally. 

1. A tube holder comprising a generally V-shaped holder for receiving a tube including: a first arm having a pair of generally parallel members arranged to lie on each side of the tube; a second arm formed of a solid member to provide a support for said holder; an apertured member arranged across said first and second arms and containing an aperture for receiving the nozzle of said tube; a slidable member engaging and bridging said parallel members and slidable therealong, said slidable member being curved to facilitate actuation of said slidable member toward said apertured member; means for resiliently urging apart said arms; and step formation means on said apertured member for restraining separating of said arms, said arms being movable together upon depression of said slidable member toward said tube during actuation of said slidable member toward said apertured member to cause emission of the contents of said tube.
 2. A tube compressor as in claim 1 wherein said curved slidable member includes an upwardly extending flange at the end of said slidable member toward said apertured member.
 3. A tube compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein protrusions are formed from one of the arms of the holder, adjacent the common connection portion thereof and extending towards the other arm so as to assist in retaining a tube in the holder, in use.
 4. A tube compressor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the holder and apertured member are formed integrally. 